I’ve long been a big Alistair Begg fan. I think it’s partly due to the accent, but he’s able to just plainly say things with an authority others simply don’t command.
This is a fantastic sermon I highly recommend you watch from beginning to end, it’s only 38 minutes long and well worth it. I hope you’ll listen to it and hear what he’s trying to say.
Membership Matters (it really does)
A helpful video from Matt Chandler et al on church membership:
These are some key points I’ve been sharing with folks for years. That’s what I appreciate so much about Matt, he’s always focusing on what the Bible says and how we can think biblically.
1) Christians are called to submit to their leaders (Hebrews 13:17). Any leaders? No, their leaders. There’s the embedded assumption that you are part of a local congregation. You don’t get to decide this, otherwise you’re the leader. The leaders of any local church set the requirements for membership… there’s no way to obey them and reject membership at the same time.
2) There is an organization whereby someone can be removed (Matthew 18:15-20). This is clearly a local group of believers who are organized with leaders, processes, standards, and who have a governing body. Jesus even says when they agree, he casts his vote with them.
You don’t have to call it membership I suppose, but you must submit yourself to the accountability of a local community of believers who are organized in a hierarchical structure of leadership and authority overseen by ordained men. Besides, the word membership is a commonly understood English word and it’s also biblical (Romans 12:5; 1Corinthians 12:27), why would someone reject it? Is it pride or Christ-centeredness?
Some things to consider. Are you a church member? I’m not asking if you’re on a role somewhere, are you a member? You should be.
Do you lead a Sunday School class? What if you were to start a NEW group? I know, “our class just got together” “we aren’t stable enough to start a new group” “we just started getting to know each other” Trust me, in the history of Christian Educational Ministry, this is not a new struggle. But, what if the purpose of our class wasn’t just to connect the people we already have, but to reach out and connect new people? What if the reason for our Sunday School class, at least in part, was to find people on the fringe and draw them in? What if, just maybe, one of the 3 core values of Sunday School was “REACHING?” Wouldn’t starting a new class be a great way to connect with new or not-yet fully connected people? I think it would. That’s when a class goes from just something you do to a gospel centered ministry, making more and better disciples starting at home base. To that end, let me recommend a great post from Bob Mayfield with 5 ways to start a new class, or rather, 5 kinds of classes you can easily start. The Form class, the Target, the Branch, the Connection, and the Pastor’s Connection class. Who could we be reaching? Don’t forget, Easter is right around the corner!
Which Bible translation is the best one? Well, mostly it’s the one that you’ll read. At least from among the major translations like the NIV, NASB, ESV, NLT, NKJV and even the tried and true KJV. We’re so blessed to live in an age where so much time and technology can be applied to make God’s word as accurately communicated to us as possible. It is a good practice, I believe, to reevaluate what translation you use every 10-15 years or so. A lot happens in a person’s life as well as in the way we use language. I’ve primarily used the ESV (c) 2001 when it comes to an English translation, but I’m giving the CSB (c) 2017 a look. What I’ve seen so far I’m impressed with.
There’s a “Translation Continuum,” or a scale on which translations fall. There are more formal word-for-word versions which don’t actually translate much, and on the other end there are more dynamic thought-for-thought versions where a lot of subjectivity is included.
Every Bible translation has to combine the idea of being faithful to what was originally written and being able to understand the words you’re translating into. This blending of “Literal” and “Readability” is a bit of art and a lot of science. It’s always changing because our own language is always changing, though God’s Word never changes. 
With all this in mind, as we begin our next series of Sunday morning messages here at Pleasant Heights, I will be using the CSB as my primary English text, and we’ll see how it goes. It’s always fine to use the version you prefer when listening to a sermon, but many will want to know “what version are you using?” Starting March 4 for: “Red Letters: The Words of Jesus” I’ll be using the CSB.
It’s not the only (or most important) test of a good translation, but after seeing some of the people who have endorsed the CSB, I became more comfortable taking a look at it for myself. You can read a sample of endorsements and see what you think. Guys like Tony Evans, Alistair Begg, David Platt, Danny Akin, and many others have placed their stamp of approval on this new translation. That means a lot.
Here’s a helpful video about the CSB as well:
I hope we can enjoy this version together for years to come.
When I was in Jr. High I wanted to fit in with all my friends who were on the football team, but I was basically a twig. As much as I tried to lift weights and get as mean and try as hard as I could, it just wasn’t going to happen. I was on the outside looking in. I found my place playing baseball and later on the swim team in High School. Everybody wants to find a place where they belong.
There was a place just outside the ancient city of Jerusalem called Gehenna. In Old Testament times (cf. 2Kings 16:3; 21:6; Jeremiah 7:31) some of the wicked kings of Judah had sacrificed their children with fire in this place. Because of this abomination, it became known as a cursed place. By the time Jesus walked the Earth, it was basically the garbage dump.
Listen to this verse:
If your eye causes you to fall away, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
Mark 9:47-48
“Hell” here is the Greek word gehenna (γέεννα). It is a reference to what it will be like to spend eternity apart from God. Hell is real, just as the Hinnom Valley southwest of Jerusalem was real, the only thing is, Hell will be much much worse. Those who reject Jesus will be the ultimate outcasts.
But it doesn’t need to be that way…
Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
Jesus offers for you to not be an outcast, but to be the ultimate insider. He will live in you and you in Him. He is inviting you to come to Him and be saved. We need not fear the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14) where even Death and Hades are thrown, because we can trust in Him.
Don’t choose to be an outcast, choose a place where you belong. Choose to follow Jesus.
